Proverbs, Axioms and Fables in Things Fall Apart Choose a proverb or axiom or fable from Part One Chapters 1-9.
You need to 1. interpret and 2. discuss its importance in the chapter. Do not repeat anyone else's choice!!! So, if you have one you really want to talk about, do it early so someone else doesn't beat you to it. Due Date: Tuesday, March 2
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"Our elders say that the sun will shine on those who stand before it shines on those who kneel under them."(Chinua Achebe 11) This demonstrates the idea that greatness will be bestowed on those who work and have a lot before those who have a little and do not work as hard. The meaning of this passage is important to the section because it represents the importance of work in the village and the idea that those who work are rewarded with greatness and those who do not work are of lesser value and are beneath the rest.
"At last the locusts did descend. They settled on every tree and on every blade of grass, they settled on the roofs and covered the bare ground. Mighty tree branches broke away under them, and the whole country became the brown-earth color of the vast, hungry swarm." (Achebe 55). This short passage could be interpreted as a fable/metaphor/foreshadowing as to what was to happen next to the Igbo. Achebe states that the locusts had not come for several years, which was rare. So this time, they came in higher quantities and covered everything in sight, invading all the plants. This is important in the chapter because it related to how the Ibo will be colonized. The destruction the locusts are doing represents how the new colonies will invade and destroy the Igbo culture and traditions.
Things Fall Apart Blog 1
“As the elder’s said, if a child washed his hands he could eat with Kings.” (Achebe 12) This is a proverb used in the first chapter of the novel. What it means is that people in this society are judged on their own achievements and not on their fathers’ achievements. Every person earns their worth by their personal doings and they will be treated in a way that reflects what they have done. This proverb is especially important for the first chapter because it demonstrates that even though Unoka was a debtor, Okonkwo had earned respect from others because of his achievements.
"When the moon is shining the cripple becomes hungry for a walk." Page 14. THis proverb describes the attitude of the Ibo people towards the dark, they fear the darkness and the things creeping in it. Yet, when the moon shines they are not afraid to go outside. The darkness represents the mood of this chapter, as the looming darkness of war creeps on the village.
"Everybody laughed heartily except Okwonko, who laughed uneasily because, as the saying goes, an old woman is always uneasy when dry bones are mentioned in a proverb" (Achebe 23). The proverb means that when someone has problems or has had difficulties with something, it's difficult to laugh at it or take it lightly, it's something that makes one uneasy and uncomfortable. Okwonko's father is dead, so he remembers him, which makes him uneasy.
"Looking at a king's mouth, one would think he never sucked at his mother's breast" (28)
1. This is how the elders see Okonkwo, as a very powerful man but brusque in dealing with other people-he shows no emotions for he believes they area sign of weakness. I think that this means that all men, even kings, were babies once and are all equal at birth and the elders believe that Okonkwo probably forgot this. also this can relate to the fact that Okonkwo forged his own destiny without help from his father or anyone else except from the man who gave him his first yams.
2. Its importance in the chapter is that Okonkwo's personality leads him to forget his origins and ancestors and so he beats his third wife during Peace Week which is forbidden. I think that this shows that Okonkwo's intrapersonal skills are marked and severed by the feeling of shame his father created in him.
In Chapter 3, Okonkwo is in Nwakibie's obi while they share the kola nut and the palm-wine. Here, Okonkwo explains his capacity for hard work and determination before Nwakibie by stating that, "The lizard that jumped from the high iroko tree to the ground said he would praise himself if no one else did." (Achebe 24) The lizard is proving that a man should always obtain merit from strong performances and work. Okonkwo uses this proverb to prove to Nwakibie that he can trust him with his yam seeds, that he will not fail him. He is the lizard that is used to hard labor and that is determined to succeed. Nwakibie is discovering Okonkwo through this saying and realizes what a hard worker and strong man he is.
“Father- said Obiageli- People should not talk when they are eating or pepper may go down the wrong way.” (Achebe 45)
The quote has a much deeper meaning than just eating and the food going to the wrong side. This means that you should do one thing at a time. That’s just one meaning while the other is that you should think before you talk, because something might go wrong. It makes reference to the chapter to the part when Okonkwo is ready to go hunting and his wife Ekwefi murmurs something about “guns that never shot” (Achebe 39) because Okonkwo not being a skilled hunter. Okonkwo manages to hear her and actually shoots at her, but misses. This can be traced to the quote because the pepper went the wrong way. Ekwefi shouldn’t have commented on Okonkwo’s abilities because she almost got killed by not knowing when to be quite.
In Chapter 3, Okonkwo says to Nwakibie "a man who pays respect to the great paves the way for his own greatness" (Achebe 22). Okonkwo says this to Nwakibie whenhe is trying to explain why he has come to visit him to his obi. He goes on to explain to Nwakibie that he has a favor to ask of him which is that if Nwakibie could give Okonkwo some yam seeds to grow and to start building up his farm. This proverb first of all illustrates how important respect towards the elders is for their community. The proverb means that when respecting elders they in turn come to respect you and can help out in the future to reach your our success. When Okonkwo said this to Nwakibie he was flattering him saying he was an elder and someone of power which could help him become powerful as well.
"Every year before i put any crop in the earth i sacrifice a cock to Ani, the owner of all land. It is the law of our fathers."(Achebe 20) This quote reveals the importance of religion in Okwonko's village.He does this and is completely convinced that this will bring him good crops and good luck with the things he harvests. It shows how African tribes were ruled by religious believes and customs.
“When a man says yes his chi says yes also.” (Achebe 29) For the Ibo people Chi was a man’s personal God. This again places emphasis on Okonkwo’s strong character, how he made something from nearly nothing. This was said to let the reader know that Okonkwo was a very hard worker and he made what he had with his own hands. That he had the right to some extent to not be humble and he had the right to be look down upon less successful men. Okonkwo said yes to his chi, chanting success and that is what he obtained; something he was well recognized for. In chapter four this axiom serves as justification for Okonkwo calling another man a woman (a man with no title), during a meeting with all the elders. Some criticized him but if it was any man who could have that character it was Okonkwo; he had most definitely earned it.
"Eneke the bird says that since men have learned to shoot without missing, he has learned to fly without perching (Achebe 24)." Nwakibie says this to Okonkwo right after Okonkwo has asked him to give him some yams to start his farm. This proverb serves to emphasize the difficulty that planting yams has. Eneke the bird has learned to fly without resting meaning that it will always want to ruin the yams; therefore, keeping the yams alive will be a great task because Eneke will never rest. Nwakibie says this to Okonkwo to emphasize his trust in him because he says that he trusts him that he will look after the yams he gives him. This is important in the chapter because it shows how the people of Umuofia are very hard-workers. Planting yams is not an easy task on that is why Nwakibie has said no to many planters who have asked him if he would lend him some yams. Only the best can take on such a hard task because it is demanding and someone that is lazy couldn't do this task. This presents Okonkwo as a hard-working, trustworthy man that will get the job done no matter what.
“A proud Heart can survive a general failure because such failure does not prick its pride. It is more difficult when a man fails alone.”(pg 27) His father Unoka referring to the simply disastrous harvest season says this to Okonkwo. In this quote Unoka refers to how a man with nothing can endure the agonizing and many times embarrassing fact that he has failed to to fulfill his goal or socially expected function, and how his pride serves as a shield to protect his heart from truly breaking down and keeps him afloat while the ship sinks. But when a man has no pride or nothing to hold on to even the strongest of men will give in to the suffering like the man who committed suicide earlier in chapter 3. The importance of this proverb is that it serves as a reflection of Unoka itself and how he compares to his sons. He mkes allusion sto his son when he mention pride since he knew he was “manly and a proud heart”(pg 27), but then he makes a contrast with himself by saying that “It is more difficult when a man fails alone” alone meaning having nothing not just material but lacking that fierce and internal strength his son possessed , it was one of his final thoughts as he lay on his death bed
"Those whose palm-kernels were cracked for them by a benevolent spirit should not forget to be
humble."(Achebe 28)
1. This proberb has the sole objective to trasmit the message of humility. The point is for the poeple in the tribe to be able to aknowlege when something has been done fore them. In other words, if in order to fullfill a task, you have recieved help from others, you must never forget that you did not accomplish that alone. Often in life people succede and become important members of society and ultimately forget that they are only succesfull becuse they had people along the way that helped them become succesfull.
2. This applies to Okonkwo in the novel becuase at the town meeting he was not being at all humble. He was not aknowledging that he ahd recueved help along his way. Furthermore the narrator remings us that if he has recieved help algon his way he must be humble and nor arrogant.
"The lizard that jumped from the high iroko tree to the ground said he would praise himself if no one else did."(Achebe 21) – Okonkwo, chapter 3
1. I think this proverb means that the hard work is not done in vain-that even if nobody else sees the amount of effort he puts into things, or the impressive things he does, he still sees it himself, and he will give himself credit for what he did even if nobody else did.
2.This proverb was said by Okonkwo, when he was talking to his neighbor, Nwwkibie, about his capacity for hard work.Okonkwo feels really proud of himself because of all the hard work he has done. He acknowledges that maybe nobody has recognized what he had done, yet he still feels what he did was worthwhile and important. This also shows that the people of his culture, as well as himself, had a great sense of pride, and if it was used properly, it could result in greatness and many accomplishments.
"The lizard that jumped from the high iroko tree to the ground said he would praise himself if no one else did."(Achebe 21) – Okonkwo, chapter 3
1. I think this proverb means that the hard work is not done in vain-that even if nobody else sees the amount of effort he puts into things, or the impressive things he does, he still sees it himself, and he will give himself credit for what he did even if nobody else did.
2.This proverb was said by Okonkwo, when he was talking to his neighbor, Nwwkibie, about his capacity for hard work.Okonkwo feels really proud of himself because of all the hard work he has done. He acknowledges that maybe nobody has recognized what he had done, yet he still feels what he did was worthwhile and important. This also shows that the people of his culture, as well as himself, had a great sense of pride, and if it was used properly, it could result in greatness and many accomplishments.
“Eze elina, elina! Sala Eze ilikwa ya Ikwaba akwa oligholi, Ebe Danda nechi eze, Ebe Uzuzu nete egwu, Sala” (Achebe 58) This is a song that Ikemefuna sings as he approaches to “see” his mother. Ikemefuna especially decides to sing this because as a small child this was what he would do to resolve any internal conflict. It appears that performing this task, tranquilizes any negative assertion that he might be a fatalist about.
The relevance of this in the chapter is that this simple chant, demonstrates the innocence that permeated Ikemefuna, the confidence that he had on Okonkwo, the determination with which he wanted to believe that he was actually going to visit his mother. It’s quite ironic and creates somewhat of a parallel when Ikemefuna is killed because this demonstrates a loss of innocence, a loss of humanity. This song gives the reader a final illustration of Ikemefuna.
"They called him the little bird nza who so far forgot himself after a heavy meal that he challenged his chi (33).
This line (and fable) talks about a bird who challenged the gods because he thought he was self-suficient or even superior than others. No further explanation is given now, but we know that this little bird must not have had good consequences because Okonkwo is being compared to it after commiting a great crime. His enemies started saying this about him after Okonkwo beat his wife during Peace week, even though it was strictly forgiven to hurt anyone in any manner. They're basically accusing him of pride and egotistical tendencies because this act will affect all their crops and they might even starve because of his disrespect.
After Ikemeuma's execution Oberika and Okonkwo argue about what had just happened. Obierika says: "...If I were you I would have stayed at home.[...]. It is the kind of action for which the goddess wipes out whole families." Okonkwo responds with the proverb: "The Earth cannot punish me for obeying her messenger (Chinua Achebe, 67)." The passage shows a crucial and direct confrontation between Okonkwo and Obierika that occurs when Okonkwo visits his best friend soon after killing Ikemefuna. Obierika, one of the elders who stay away from the killing, is affirming that he is not less manly because he abstined from the kiling. Okonkwo on the other hand believes that in order to be a true man, one must show no weakness at all. Therefore, Obierika's refusal to participate in the killing is looked upon as weakness and Okonkwo questions the elders manhood. The proverb is similar to our more westernized/modern "Dont shoot the messenger." Okonkwo views himself as nothing but a tool and therefore unpunishable because he did what the Oracle asked. This is similar to when religious extremists excuse their violence with the belief that they are doing their God's work.
"Some farmers had not planted their yams yet. They were the lazy easy-going ones who always put off clearing their farms as long as they could. This year they were the wise ones." (Achebe 26) This quote refers to the misfortunes that happened that year, due to weather conditions. Because of the time, the righteous people who planted their yams when they were supposed to, lost them because there was a heat and dry streak. And those lazy ones prevailed because they did not lose their crops in cause of their procrastination. For me this represents stems the fact that sometimes weakness prevails and that it's not always positive to be a determined and dedicated villager. And weakness being the most fearsome asset to Okwonko it tells you indirectly something about Unoka, that even though he was weak and not able to plant the crops, he had some wisdom in him.
Unoka went to the Oracle of the Hills and the Caves to consult and the priestess told Unoka a proverb of "When a man is at peace with his gods and his ancestors, his harvest will be good or bad according to the strength of his arm ."(Achebe20)This means that the harvest/results will depend on how hard the person works for it and how responsible he is in his tasks. The priestess also explains this proverb by saying that when Unoka's neighbors are off to cut forests and cross seven rivers to make their farms while Unoka just stays home all lazy taking no labor. This proverb is important in this chapter since because of Unoka's laziness, Unoka lived in debt and so Okonkwo had to start all himself without a title or inheritance and work hard on his farms from "cock-crow until the chickens went to roost" (Achebe17). By doing this, Okonkwo earned alot of respect and was rich because he worked very hard unlike his father.
Andres Leyton
"Take away your kola nut, I shall not eat in the house of a man who has no respect for our gods and our ancestors" (32)
1) It is the priest who says this showing the disgust he had towards Okonkwo, this insults him in many ways given that respect for gods and ancestors is one of the strongest things they belive in.
2) This is important because it leads to the punishment of Okonkwo, his fines and everything else, it shows how noone, not even someone respected like Okonkwo, is allowed to break any sacred ritual.
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